And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
Since the days of Jeshua ... had not the children of Israel done so. This national feast had not been neglected for so protracted a period; because, besides that it is impossible that such a flagrant disregard of the law could have been tolerated by Samuel, David, and other pious rulers, its observance is sufficiently indicated, 1 Kings 8:2; 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Chronicles 7:9; and expressly recorded, Ezra 3:4. But the meaning is, that the popular feelings had never been raised to such a height of enthusiastic joy since the time of their entrance into Canaan, as now on their return after a long and painful captivity. The sacred ceremonies extended over eight days, from the fifteenth to the twenty-second (inclusive) of Tisri.